Sheet member handling



Feb- 2, 1965 R. R. wALToN ETAL SHEET MEMBER HANDLING Filed Aug. 8. 1960 United States Patent Oilice 3,l68,3d8 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 3,3.6S08 SHEET MEMBER HANDLING Richard Pi. Weiten, it? W. Iliil Piace, Boston, Mass., and

George E. Mnnchbach, Itoslindele, Mass.; said Munchba-ch assigner to said Walton, Boston, Mass.

Fit-ed Ang. 8, 196i?. Ser. No. 48,116 24 iaims. (Cl. 271-27) Our invention relates to the handling of textile pieces and the like.

Our invention has two general objectives, the separation and the pick-up from adjacent surface of individual thin, relatively flexible sheet members.

One application of our invention is the removal of individual textile pieces from such stacks as are obtained when many layers of overlying textile are cut simultaneously in preparation for such operations as transporting, sewing, punching, packaging, etc. Adjacent pieces in such stacks are compressed and the edges locked together by the entangled fibers; the pieces are generally porous; and the stack is susceptible to disruption. These obstacles to mechanized separation account for the fact that garment workers, as an example, tothis day separate the pieces with their fingers. Our invention overcomes such problems.

Our invention includes directing a stream of air or any suitable gas to i'low over the face of a sheet member so that the sheet member deiines a boundary of the air stream and changing the air stream to lift by entrainment the sheet member. Our invention comprehends the possible initial use of the stream to flutter the edge portion of a sheet member to promote initial separation of that portion. Apparatus of our invention removes a member without stack disruption, and a preferred embodiment delivers the member very accurately to a position from which it can be subjected to mechanized operations.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a diagrammatic representation of the operation of the invention illustrating an initial relation of an air stream with respect to a sheet member;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the operation of the invention achieving preliminary flutter separation;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation similar to FIG. l indicating the separating effect of the air stream as it is changed to a path away from the stack;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation similar to FIG. 2 illustrating further separation obtained by movement of the source of the air stream;

FIG. 5 is a perspective of a preferred separation apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 5 accomplishing initial separation of a sheet member from a stack;

FIG. 7 is a sectional View similar to FIG. 6, illustrating the progressive separation achieved with the apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective of a preferred separation and pick-up apparatus;

FIGS. 9, l0 and ll are diagrammatic end views of the pick-up roll of the embodiment of FIG. 8 illustrating its relation to a sheet member at three successive positions.

Operative in our invention is an air stream which is directed to flow over and generally parallel with the face of a sheet member from an air outlet connected to a compressed air supply. The sheet member thereby defines a boundary of the air stream, and deviations in the air stream path away from the stack cause the sheet member to leave the stack.

Deviation may occur through rotation of the air outlet, so as to direct air in a path inclined to the stack; or a stream of air owing initially parallel to the face of the stack can be caused to flow in a curved path away from the stack; or the air outlet may be raised from the stack. In each instance, so long as the sheet member remains entrained with the air stream, it conforms to deviations in the air stream in paths away from the stack.

As an example, referring to FIG. 1, a nozzle means I4 is disposed to direct an air stream over and generally parallel with the face of a sheet member 16 of stack 12 towards a sheet member extremity, a corner or edge. Thereby this portion of the sheet member resides at and denes a boundary of the air stream and is ready to be lifted.

Referring to FIG. 2, to initiate separation of the sheet member, prior to the entrainment of FIG. l, a substantial air flow can first be directed over the edge margin from a point spaced substantially inside from the edge, for causing flutter of the edge portion, especially useful in causing edge disengagement with the stack where there is liber entanglement of textile pieces.

Referring to FIG. 3, the nozzle is rotated in a vertical plane from the orientation of FIG. l to point at an angle A, inclined away from the face. The sheet member is lifted up as it remains in alignment with the air stream, and thus is peeled from the adjacent surface.

Referring to FIG. 4, the nozzle can be subsequently moved back from the corner, progressively separating and turning up rearward portions without stack disruption. Grasping of the initially turned up corner may occur simultaneously.

Referring to FIGS. 5-7, one preferred embodiment of our invention is a device comprised of an elongated shield 20 of an arcuate cross-section, e.g., a segment of a cylinder, along a convex side of which are disposed air outlets 22 connected to an air supply 24, adapted to direct air streams substantially tangentially to the convex surface. A worker can initially hold the device by handle 26 over the face of a stack, at an edge, with the outlets disposed so that a substantial component of the air stream flows over the stack face towards the edge; this air stream ilows generally parallel to the sheet where the curve of the convex surface is generally parallel with the stack face, and beyond this, due to the effect of the upward curve of the surface next to which it ows, this air stream is progressively curved and ows away from the stack, in the direction indicated by arrow 29 in FIG. 6. Referring further to FIG. 6, the edge portion 28 of the face sheet bends up to align with the air ow, being substantially separated from the adjacent surface.

Referring to FIG. 7, when this device is moved over the face, away from the edge, successive portions of the sheet bend up towards the curved shield 20 next to which the air continues to ilow, and are peeled from the stack while the edge portion 28 is available for grasping.

Referring to the separation and pick-up apparatus of FIGS. 8-11, air streams indicated by arrow 34 flow over a sheet member 38 at the face of a stack 39 from openings 35 in a pick-up roll 36 (see FIG. 9). This roll has Van air passage 44B supplied with compressed air. Air leaving the openings 35 flows tangentially to the surface of the roll. A number of narrow belts 42 extend from an anchor 44 (fixed with respect to the stack 39) forward to and around the pickup roll 36, then back to rear pulleys 46, then to the anchor. The pick-up roll and the pulleys are rotatably mounted in a frame 47 which is adapted for reciprocation to carry the pick-up roll over the stack to the outer edge, then back over the stack face to a point beyond the opposite edge. The pick-up roll is preferably in driving contact with the belts and is rotated thereby when translational movement occurs, electing a rolling type motion with respect to the stack. At any rate, it is preferred that the belts move in substantial correspondence with rotational movement of the roll. It will be Seen that rear pulley 46 and the anchoring of the belts after being led around these pulleys is, in elfect, a take-up and feed-out device, maintaining a generally even tension in the belts through the successive positions of the frame 47.

Referring to FIG. 9, analogous to FIG. 6, the edge portion 3S of the face member is initially turned upwards when the air stream ows from the pick-up roll over the face surface towards the edge, and deviates in an upwardly curved path.

Referring to FIG. 10, with rotation of the pickup roll, there is a combination of those eifects discussed with respect to FIGS. 3 and 7, and the sheet member is peeled from the stack.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and ll, as rearward movement progresses, the sheet member is progressively peeled oli from the stack'by the air stream forces as rearward movement of theframe 47 progresses until the sheet member suliiciently frictionally engages a conveyer, here belts 42. This occurs after the air stream openings have rotated through a substantial arc,fwith the sheet member being bent about the roll.

Referring to FIG. 8, the belts engage the rear portions 50 of the stack when the pick-up roll is in forward positions, and this prevents undesirableV slippage of the face member relative to the stack. No relative translational movement occurs between the belt and stack and engagement and disengagement occurs without stack disruption, automatically with forward and rearward movement of the pick-up roll respectively. During Vthe removal from the stack, the edge 38 is held positively with relation to the pick-up roll by the tension forces created by the air stream on this edge and the restraint of the belts on the rear portions.Y When the frame 47 has moved back carrying the pick-up roll past the rear edge, the separated sheet member lies on top of the conveyer belts, available to be transported to a station for further operations by hand or conveyer mechanism. VIt may be noted that vacuum devices, though ineffectual for initial separation By way of example of the invention, an air stream hasV been created by directing airV through a small hole in a pick-up roll having a diameter of about 1/s inch from a source of compressed air maintained at a pressure of 50 p.s.i. This air stream was sufficient to promote separa- Y tion of an individual piece of terry cloth cloth from a Stack; terry cloth being a rough fabric, pieces of which are considered very difficult to separate. The air vpres- Sure as well as the size and configuration of the air outlet `can be varied widely while achieving good results upon many types of sheet materials. Y Y

Many uses of the invention are foreseen in sheet han dling industries and changes in various of the details of Vour invention can be achieved all within its spirit and scope.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for promoting pick-up of an individual sheet member comprising an elongated roll member having a convexly curved outer surface, said roll member Y being mounted for repeatable translationalV movement over the face of said sheet member, away from an initial position above the sheet member in the region of an edge thereof, and said roll member being mounted for simul-V taneous rolling type rotational movement, said roll memp ber having an air passage adapted to be connected to a compressed air supply, and having an air outlet adapted to direct an air stream generally tangential to its outer surface, whereby when said roll member is at said initial position with said air outlet positioned to direct air towards said edge of said sheet member, said air stream causes edge portions of the sheet member to be raised to said curved surface, and translation of said roll member away from the initial position causes movement of said sheet member edge with said roll member.

2. The apparatus of claim l wherein a movable conveyer is disposed adjacent said roll member, adapted to receive said sheet members moving with said roll members, said conveyor being adapted to move in the direction away from said roll member when said roll member rotates whereby translation of said roll member over the face of said sheet member away from said edge causes said sheet member to move onto said conveyer.

' 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said roll member has cylindrical surface portions about which said conveyor is engaged in relative driving contact.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a belt means is secured Vto an anchor fixed behind and below the sheet member, said belt means extending forward, and upward to a point fixed with respect to the axis of said roll member, a take-up and feed-out means provided to tension said belt means with respect to said anchor as movement of the roll member towards and away from said lanchor occurs respectively whereby said belt means is adapted to engage for restraint rear portions of the face of said sheet member when said roll member is in the region of said forward edge, and whereby the pull exerted yon the forward edge of said sheet member by said air stream insures positive positioning of the sheet member being removed.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said belt means comprises a plurality of narrow belts, and said roll member has cylindrical surface portions about which said belts are engaged in driving contact at a point between said anchor and said take-up and feed-out device whereby said belts cause rotation of said roll member in response to translational movement of the axis of said roll member.

.6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said take-up and feed-out device includes an idler mechanism mounted for translation with said pick-up roll, and said belt means is lead around said idler mechanism and forward to an anchor at a point fixed with respect toA said stack.

7. A mechanism for removing an individual textile piece from the face of a stack of such pieces without disrupting the stack'comprising means for separating a iirst extremity of said textile piece from said stack face, carrier means for carrying said textile piece progressively from said stack, beginning with said first extremity, a supporting memberV supporting said carrier means, said supporting member mounted for lateral movement relative to said stack face from said first extremity to the opposite extremity of said piece, said carrier means mounted to move relative to said supporting member at a surface speed dependent upon tne speed of said movement of said supporting member to substantially cancel the lateral moving effect of said supporting member upon the part of the carrier means that corresponds with the progressing point of disengagement of said textile piece from said stack.

8. The mechanism of claim 7 wherein said carrier means is adapted to move in a rolling motion relative to the face of the stack at the progressing point of disengagementof said textileY piece from said stack.

9. The mechanism of claim 7 wherein said means for separating said lirst extremity of said textile piece `from said stack comprises means to produce a stream of air over said extremity that produces a low pressure zone above the face of said stack toward which said extremity raises into position for engagement with said carrier means.

10. The mechanism of claim 7 wherein said carrier means includes a movable belt means, said belt means having a substantially dat span extending from a point adjacent to said means for separating said extremity,

arranged so ythat said textile piece moves over said span directly after being removed from said stack.

11. The mechanism of claim 7 wherein said carrier means includes a plurality of movable belts spaced apart transversely to the direction of movement, said means for separating said rst extremity of said textile piece from the stack located to act upon said extremity through the space provided between said belts.

12. The mechanism of claim 7 wherein said carrier means includes a belt which initially has a portion eX- tending toward said opposite extremity of -said textile piece, lying adjacent the face of said stack, said belt anchored against lateral movement relative to said stack and means for progressively taking up said belt from said stack in the direction toward said opposite extremity with said movement of said supporting member toward said opposite extremity.

13. The mechanism of claim 12 adapted to be returned to its initial position after removal of the tirst textile piece, and adapted simultaneously to replace said belt to lie adjacent .the face of said stack.

14. The mechanism of claim 12 wherein said belt is adapted to extend beyond said opposite extremity of said textile piece at the face of said stack and downwardly therefrom to a support to enable said belt to apply pressure to said stack face whenever engaged therewith.

15. The mechanism of claim 12 wherein said means for taking up said belt from said stack includes a curved member having a convex side exposed downwardly, said curved member mounted upon said supporting member, said belt means being trained under and against said curved member, the curved member adapted to translate with said supporting member across the face of said stack in the direction away from said first extremity of said textile piece upon said movement of said supporting member, said belt adapted to progressively roll about said curved member and leave said stack upon said movement of said supporting member.

16. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein said curved member is a cylinder rotatably mounted to said supporting member, and said belt means is adapted to drive said cylinder with said movement of `said supporting member.

17. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein said means for separating said rst extremity of said textile piece from said stack includes means to cause an air stream to ow between the undersurface of said curved member and said stack whereby said tirst extremity of said textile piece is raised into engagement with said belt.

18. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein said belt comprises spaced-apart parallel belt portions, said curved member includes an air supply passage, and an air outlet passage extends from within said curved member to discharge between said belt portions in an upwardly directed air ow from a point adjacent the face of said stack whereby -said first extremity of said textile piece is raised into engagement with said belt portions.

19. An apparatus for promoting pick-up of individual sheet members comprising a curved member mounted for initial positioning over the face of a sheet member, near an edge thereof, and for movement away therefrom, said curved member having a faired, generally convex undersurface portion, inclined upwardly on the side adjacent said edge when said curved member is in said initial position, and an air conductive means disposed at the opposite side of said undersurface portion, positioned to direct a stream of air initially in the general direction of said edge in a path adjacent to and below said undersurface, said undersurface being thereby adapted to cause at least some of said air stream vto move in an attitude inclined to the direction of initial air flow for lifting edge portions of said sheet member, said curved member and said air conductive means -being mounted for mutual rotational movement relative to the initial position of the sheet member whereby the direction of said air stream can be changed by rotation, carrying said sheet member portions therewith.

20. Apparatus for removing an air permeable top cloth piece from a stack of air permeable pieces comprising a rotatable air directing means adapted in an initial position to direct air from a positive air supply against a margin portion of said top cloth piece, means adapted to rotate said air directing means to change the direction of said air stream to ow at a substantial angle away from said stack in the direction outwardly of said margin, said air directing means adapted to apply a lifting force to said margin of said top piece and carry said margin away from said stack with said change in direction of said air stream.

21. The apparatus of claim 2() wherein said air directing means includes an air supply manifold extending across said stack, a multiplicity of air outlets connected to said manifold, positioned initially to direct a plurality of air streams against said top cloth piece, said manifold rotatably supported on an axis parallel to the plane of said top piece, and means adapted to rotate said manifold to turn said outlets away from said stack.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the outer surface of said manifold denes a baie surface extending adjacent the path of at least part of said air streams, said air batile surface positioned to enhance the lifting effect of said air streams.

23. The method of initiating removal of an air permeable top cloth piece from a stack of air permeable pieces comprising, by means of an air outlet means provided with a positive air supply, initially directing a stream of air to ow against a margin portion of said top piece to promote its loosening, thereafter rotating said air outlet means to cause said air stream to flow at a substantial angle away from said stack, thereby applying a lifting force to said top piece and carrying said margin away from said stack.

24. The method of claim 23 including the step, upon at least the edge of said margin of said top piece being lifted from said stack, of moving said air outlet means bodily over the face of said top piece and in the direction away from said edge to promote progressive separation of said margin from said stack.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,867,038 Upham July 12, 1932 2,441,912 Streich May 18, 1948 2,454,762 Belluche Nov. 30, 1948 2,595,546 Sampson May 6, 1952 2,791,424 Noon May 7, 1957 2,819,075 Noon Jan. 7, 1958 2,953,371 Smith Sept. 20, 1960 

23. THE METHOD OF INITIATING REMOVAL OF AIR PERMEABLE TOP CLOTH PIECE FROM A STACK OF AIR PERMEABLE PIECES COMPRISING, BY MEANS OF AN AIR OUTLET MEANS PROVIDED WITH A POSITIVE AIR SUPPLY, INITIALLY DIRECTING A STREAM OF AIR TO FLOW AGAINST A MARGIN PORTION OF SAID TOP PIECE TO PROMOTE ITS LOOSENING, THEREAFTER ROTATING SAID AIR OUTLET MEANS TO CAUSE SAID AIR STREAM TO FLOW AT A SUBSTANTIAL ANGLE AWAY FROM SAID STACK, THEREBY APPLYING A LIFTING FORCE TO SAID TOP PIECE AND CARRYING SAID MARGIN FROM SAID STACK. 